FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . (0)1 Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE IN ZVISHAVANE
FC Platinum win 3-1 after penalty shootout.
NORMAN Mapeza continued his dream run as FC Platinum coach guiding the ambitious Zvishavane-based club to their first-ever major trophy with a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Harare City to pocket the $75 000 worthy Chibuku Super Cup.
The impressive trio of Walter Musona, Raphael Muduviwa and Kelvin Moyo converted their spot-kicks which outweighed a solitary conversion from Timire Mamvura.
Raymond Uchena, Osbourne Mukuradare and Maxwell Nyamupangedengu missed their efforts from 12 yards for the City Fathers while Thabani Kamusoko also missed his effort.
The match had ended 1-1 after regulation time with Musona’s stoppage time equaliser cancelling Talent Chawapiwa’s first half goal.
The platinum miners came into the match enjoying an imperious form of not having conceded a goal in this competition and their defence had not been breached in the league in their previous five league games.
After the match, Mapeza — who has erased the feeling of losing in the miners’ camp since taking over — thanked God for the victory.
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“I was absent from football for two years,” he said.
“Now am back and God has something in store for me. I don’t want to talk much. In football at times luck works and today luck was on our side.
“We have been working hard and it’s good to get the result after so much hard work.”
Losing coach Masimba Dinyero blamed the officiating for the loss, contesting a seemingly legitimate Musona equaliser.
“We were robbed, that was not a goal,” he said.
“We deserved to win, unfortunately they were awarded a dubious goal.”
Norman Matemera took charge of the match while the match commissioner was Felix Tangawarima.
The Harare municipal side threatened in the early exchanges with James Jam’s strike in the first minute missing the target by a few inches.
Moments later, City captain David Kutyauripo was at his very best when his brilliant tackle intercepted a through ball intended for an unmarked Donald Ngoma.
The miners followed up a brief dominance with Tatenda Dzumbunu weighing up with a shot which was blocked by Kutyauripo.
Midway through the opening half, Allen Gahadzikwa knocked the ball into the path of Obrey Chirwa who fluffed the chance, hitting the crossbar.
Musona was the next to miss another chance to grab the lead for Mapeza’s men when he curled his effort wide after an intelligent build up with the Zambian.
Eight minutes before the breather Talent Chawapiwa raced clear, slotting home a perfectly executed shot to beat Petros Mhari in goal for Pure Platinum Play.
Moments before the breather, Chirwa denied Kugona Kunenge Kudada an equaliser when he delayed his pass to release an unmarked Ngoma.
After the breather, the Zvishavane-based side threw everything forward in search of an equaliser.
After an hour of action, Harare City goalkeeper Nyamupangedengu proved that he deserves top billing when he ably got to the end of an Elvis Moyo’s shot outside the box.
Fifteen minutes later, Gift Bello’s header flashed across the face of goal with his effort not strong enough.
Five minutes later Crispen Dickson defied odds when his match-winning tackle intercepted a pass from Musona intended for Chirwa who was certain to face an exposed Nyamupangedengu.
The platinum miners continued their desperate attempt in search of an equaliser with almost everyone in their camp, including president George Mawere, on their toes edging the team on.
Musona finally came right with virtually the last kick of the game when he slotted home the equaliser in stoppage time.
